CEG Productions’s construction expo in Reading, Pa., was held Feb. 27 and 28.

A couple of chilly days didn’t deter contractors, landscapers and township highway and public works department from heading out to Reading to check out the latest in construction equipment and services and to compete in or watch a very competitive backhoe rodeo.

More than 100 exhibitors showcased their new and used equipment options to hundreds of expo guests during the two-day event. Afternoons were highlighted by the annual backhoe rodeo competition.

Ryan Possinger of E.F. Possinger & Sons Inc., Stroudsberg, Pa., won the event with a final score of 286 seconds. During the second day of competition he had earlier scored 253 to earn his spot in the finals. Defending champion Mark Olson of M.P. Olson Excavation, Suffern, N.Y, was the runner up with a score of 359 seconds. During the first day of the competition he logged a first-place time of 264. Second and third place honors went to Rick Wagner of Wagner Excavating Inc., Levinworth, Kan., and DaVern Swarey of Shirk Excavating, Fleetwood, Pa., respectively.

During the expo, among the many door prizes were two grand prize winners. They were Heidi Urban, dispatcher of Landis Deck, Bernville, Pa., who won a Sony Bravia 32-in LCD TV and Lenny Shirk of Len’s Logs, Exton, Pa., who won a 4-in-1 bucket donated by Construction Implements Depot.

In addition to contractors and other equipment enthusiasts, expo exhibitors were kept busy by more than 100 students from Berks Career & Technical Center. Their instructors, Kevin Heimbach and Jim Mack, told CEG that, while at the expo, each student, was required to interview an exhibitor about a new product so that he or she could do a two-minute presentation during class about that product.

The conclusion of the Philadelphia Construction Expo in Reading marked the end of this season’s CEG Productions trade shows. Look in future issues for announcements regarding our trade shows in 2009.